Review: Monsoori Heights Indian restaurant, Milford
TRADITIONAL Indian cuisine is reimagined with a contemporary flair at Monsoori Heights in Milford.
Boasting a range of signature dishes created using the finest fresh ingredients, the vibrant 50-seater restaurant has been a feature of the High Street for the last seven years.
But although Britain's love affair with familiar Indian fare is undeniable, diners often opt for familiar dishes like chicken tikka masala and lamb madras. With its extensive menu featuring nearly 100 dishes, Monsoori Heights offers these better known options alongside regional specialties, a large array of vegetarian offerings, and an expansive range of fish dishes.
Special dishes include chicken chittinad, a south Indian delicacy of diced chicken tossed with mustard seeds, sun dried chillis and ground spice; lamb nihari, a lamb shank cooked overnight with whole spice anise seeds dating from 18th century Deli; and gosht amritsari, a combination of lamb chop, diced lamb and lamb mince cooked together in ginger, garlic, whole spices and a splash of red wine.
Arriving at Monsoori Heights, we were warmly welcomed by owner Rubel Miah, who talked passionately about delivering an authentic Indian dining experience using a blend of fresh ingredients and exotic spices - which are roasted and ground onsite for a more intense and authentic flavour. He also revealed the vast majority of cooking is undertaken using traditional clay ovens.
Turning to the drinks menu, I opted for a glass of Blushmore Zinfandel Rose, which had a mellow, dry finish with flavours of summer fruits. My husband chose Cobra Indian beer – which is available bottled or on draft.
Before ordering our starters, we grazed on poppadoms and a selection of homemade sauces including mint raita, a delicious lime and vegetable pickle, and a mango chutney. Keen to try something different, we turned to Rubel for help with selecting from the range of house specialities.
He advised us to start with chilli chicken, Chinese style – a fusion dish of battered chicken deep fried with white pepper, spring onion and a soy and chilli sauce.
Beautifully presented, the succulent chicken was encased in a light and crispy batter, which married perfectly with the sweet and vibrant chilli sauce. The chopped spring onions added savoury bursts of flavour.
Our second shared starter was basil coriander prawns – which comprised a trio of enormous butterfly king prawn which had been grilled in the shell, before being served with a spicy yogurt marinade. The blend of flavours was divine, with the cool, creamy yogurt enhancing the delicate sweetness of the shellfish.
Turning to the main courses, I selected chicken caldeen, a traditional Goan curry of diced chicken cooked in aromatic coconut milk with green chilli, ground spices, curry leaves and onions. Blending the sweetness of the coconut milk with a subtle warmth delivered by the green chilli, the fragrant dish was enhanced by the sweet sliced onion.
My husband also chose a house special, Khadija, which featured chicken tikka and lamb mince slowly cooked and blended with golden onions, egg and green chilli.
This delightfully aromatic dish featured many layers of spice and flavour, with the meaty base of the minced lamb and chicken tikka elevated by the rich creamy sauce and slow roasted onions.
We also shared a side dish of saag paneer – a blend of creamy spinach cooked in cumin, coriander and garam masala, with chunks of diced homemade paneer cheese.
As a favourite of mine, I have enjoyed this dish many times, and this version was undoubtedly the best I’ve ever tried. The garlic naan we shared was also exceptional and buttery without being too doughy and filling.
Popular with its loyal following of local residents, Monsoori Heights offers a wide choice of delicious and inventive Indian dishes. Each one we sampled was beautifully presented and full of flavour and texture. Added to this, the staff were exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable, demonstrating a confidence to recommend alternative dishes to try, based on well-known favourites.
For a chance to win a meal for two at Monsoori Heights, see the food and drink competition on page…
For more information, visit www.monsooriheights.business.site or call 01590 644441
